U.S. patent application number 12/112138 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-30 for method and device for providing a medical report.
Invention is credited to Thomas Gossler, Elmar Seeberger.
Application Number | 20080270185 12/112138 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39809519 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080270185 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gossler; Thomas ; et
al. |
October 30, 2008 |
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROVIDING A MEDICAL REPORT
Abstract
In a method, a device, a computer program product and a system
for provision of a medical report in the framework of a medical
finding under consideration of all relevant finding data, the
medical report is generated with access to all relevant finding
data at different computer-supported workspaces and is distributed
online to further computer-supported workspaces. The medical report
is thus provided for display on a monitor of arbitrary connected
network nodes.
Inventors: |
Gossler; Thomas;
(Uttenreuth, DE) ; Seeberger; Elmar; (Weissenburg,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHIFF HARDIN, LLP;PATENT DEPARTMENT
6600 SEARS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606-6473
US
|
Family ID: |
39809519 |
Appl. No.: |
12/112138 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G16H 10/60 20180101;
G16H 15/00 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/2 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 50/00 20060101
G06Q050/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 30, 2007 |
DE |
10 2007 020 364.2 |
Claims
1. A method for providing a medical report for a medical
examination with finding data resulting from the medical
examination integrated into the medical report, comprising the
steps of: producing a medical report with electronic access to
multiple sources of relevant finding data and including the
relevant finding data from said multiple sources in said medical
report; and electronically providing the medical report with the
finding data included therein in a form for display at a monitor of
a computer-supported workspace.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising electronically
accessing said finding data for producing said medical report
independently of respective storage locations of said finding
data.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising selecting said finding
data from the group consisting of data resulting from an
examination of a subject, data representing an image of a subject,
data representing a medical measurement made on a subject, and
preliminary findings obtained before said medical examination.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising configuring said
finding data to conform to a predetermined data format.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising continuously updating
at least one of said medical report and said finding data.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising accessing said finding
data from said multiple sources through a central report server
with an associated report memory.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising allowing access to
said medical report from at least one decentralized
computer-supported node via the Internet.
8. A device for providing a medical report for a medical
examination with finding data resulting from the medical
examination integrated into the medical report, comprising: a
processor configured to produce a medical report with manual input
and with electronic access to multiple sources of relevant finding
data and to include the relevant finding data from said multiple
sources in said medical report; and a report distributor configured
electronically to provide the medical report with the finding data
included therein in a form for display at a monitor of a
computer-supported workspace in communication with the report
distributor.
9. A computer-readable medium encoded with programming instructions
that are loadable into a computer for generating a medical report
for a medical examination with finding data integrated into the
medical report, said programming instructions causing said computer
to: produce a medical report with manual input and with electronic
access to multiple sources of relevant finding data and to include
the relevant finding data from said multiple sources in said
medical report; and electronically provide the medical report with
the finding data included therein in a form for display at a
monitor of a computer-supported workspace.
10. A system for providing a medical report for a medical
examination with finding data resulting from the medical
examination integrated into the medical report, comprising: a
report generator configured to produce a medical report with manual
input and with electronic access to multiple sources of relevant
finding data and to include the relevant finding data from said
multiple sources in said medical report; a computer-supported
workspace remote from said processor, comprising a monitor; a
report distributor configured to electronically provide the medical
report with the finding data included therein in a form for display
at said monitor of said computer-supported workspace; and a network
placing said report generator and said report distributor in
communication with each other and placing said computer-supported
workspace and said report distributor in communication with each
other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention is in the fields of medical technology and
informatics and in particular concerns the provision of medical
reports in the framework of a medical examination, in particular
for making a diagnostic finding for a patient.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In the prevalent medical technology systems in use today,
the following basic workflow is executed in the framework of a
medical diagnosis. After an initial or follow-up examination of a
patient, the generation of a medical report ensues in a second
step, the medical report in particular including a diagnostic
finding and is based on the acquired examination data. Different
workflows that can be applied depending on the hospital department,
time context, resources etc. can be provided based on this basic
procedure. For example, dependent on the selected time context, in
a first workflow a finding is in principle executed immediately
after the preceding examination. As an alternative, in a different
workflow the finding and/or the report generation ensues at an
arbitrary later point in time, such that the examination data must
initially be cached and then retrieved.
[0005] The primary application field of the present invention is in
the field of radiology, in which computer-aided RIS (Radiology
Information System) and PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication
System) systems are typically used. In this case the medical report
is based on a (normally imaging) medical examination at different
modalities such as, for example, CT, x-ray apparatuses, ultrasound,
PET, etc.
[0006] The generation of the medical report and the distribution
thereof within the radiology department or even to workspaces or
entities outside of the clinic (for example to the referring
physician) is an essential consideration in the optimization of
medical workflows since enormous costs and resources are connected
with the generation of the medical report and in particular with
the underlying medical examination. Reports for the referring
physician or the treating physician and for the documentation
within the clinic department have typically been generated by means
of the RIS system.
[0007] In the systems conventionally in use, a physician generates
a finding report after the medical (imaging) examination. The
images are normally available to the physician as printouts (for
example x-ray images) or as films, based on which the physician
composes his or her medical report. If the report should be
distributed to other entities, it is conventionally necessary to
manually ship the entirety of the relevant documents (finding data,
preliminary finding data, medical report etc.) to the requesting
instance via the mail. This procedure is very time-consuming and
deficient. Moreover, this represents an enormous potential for
error because, for example, an incorrect association of examination
data and recipient of the data is possible (such that, for example,
either the requesting instance receives data of a different patient
or the requested data are sent to a different physician).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An object of the present invention is to improve the
generation and the provision of a medical report, in particular to
provide a more flexible and automated design.
[0009] The above object is achieved by a method, a device, a
computer program product (computer-readable medium encoded with
programming instructions) and a system for generation and/or
provision of a medical report. The achievement of the object is
subsequently described using the method. Mentioned features or
alternative embodiments and/or advantages are hereby also likewise
to be applied to the other categories (thus to the device, the
computer program product and the system), and vice versa.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the inventive method for
generation and/or provision of a medical report in the framework of
a medical examination and/or finding under consideration of all
relevant finding data. The following method steps are executed.
[0011] A medical report is recorded and/or generated of the medical
report with access to all relevant finding data.
[0012] The medical report and/or relevant finding data are
automatically made available for display on a monitor of a
computer-aided workspace.
[0013] As used herein, the term "medical report" encompasses both
image data and text data (in different formats such as, for
example, Word format, PDF files or report data according to the
DICOM-SR format (DICOM-SR: Structured Report) etc.). The medical
report normally includes finding data, but can also include all or
selected preliminary findings, measurement results or further
relevant data or examination data (for example of a radiological
examination). The primary application field of the present
invention lies in the field of radiology and thus concerns a
radiological examination at, for example, a CT scanner. The basic
idea of the invention can likewise be applied to other imaging
modalities or other medical examinations.
[0014] The finding can be an initial finding, a change to an
existing, already-generated finding or another diagnostic measure.
The inventive generation of the medical report typically ensues
under consideration or integration of all or selected relevant
finding data. In other words, all of the finding data that he
classifies as relevant for the generation of the respective report
are processed by the respective user by means of the inventive
method.
[0015] In an embodiment, the user has a number of options via
corresponding input possibilities on a user interface. For example,
the user can set that in principle all available finding data are
considered in the inventive method. It is also possible for the
user to make a preliminary selection and so that only specific
finding data are considered in the generation of the report. An
important advantage of this embodiment is that not only the pure
finding data (thus, for example, the images) are taken into account
to generate the medical report, but also additional data that, for
example, are available on other connected workspaces. Other
connected workspaces can normally supply different types of further
data that likewise can or should be used to generate the medical
report. Such data can be text data, image data or other results or
events such as, for example, data evidence of other or parallel
examinations. According to the invention, such data can be
automatically recorded and taken into account in the generation of
the medical report. This typically ensues via presentation of the
data on a monitor of the finding computer. This (automatic) access
to further data has not been possible in the previous systems of
the prior art. Such further data could previously be considered
only by a manual procedure which, due to the high time expenditure,
led to the situation that such data have normally been neglected in
the generation of the medical report. Usable and relevant data for
the generation of the report have thus disadvantageously been
disregarded in part.
[0016] In the inventive method the medical report is typically
generated for the first time or an already-existing report is
modified. For this purpose, the already existing report is acquired
(for example imported via an existing communication connection) in
order to then be modified in a subsequent method step and to
provide this in the modified form. If a new report should be
generated, that this can proceed in multiple phases and include a
complete or partial generation of the report. Preliminary stages of
the report can thus also be retrieved and can be provided at other
computer-aided workspaces. This has the advantage that the
processing of the report generation is always current and also can
be tracked by other instances.
[0017] According to the invention the generated or modified medical
report should be distributed to requesting computer-supported
entities. In other words, a number of computer-supported workspaces
or entities are typically connected with one another via a
communication network. One or more entities can dispatch a request
to provide the medical report and/or to provide relevant finding
data. This (requesting) message is typically conveyed via a central
server. In the event that the computer-supported workspace has
generated the request or the respective user is also authorized to
receive the requested data, the data are displayed on a display
device (monitor or display window of a wearable device). In a
preferred embodiment the user can select which data the user would
like to have displayed. For example, the user can have displayed
only the medical report. Cumulatively or alternatively it is also
possible to have displayed further data, for example the relevant
finding data. The provision of the respective data (medical report
and/or relevant finding data) ensues very flexibly and comprises a
data transfer via a network (Internet, intranet, etc.), security
checks, authorization checks and possibly an encryption of the
data. It is likewise possible to provide the data to one or more
computer-supported workspaces. The computer-supported workspaces
are normally workstations. However, portable computer-supported
units such as PDAs, laptops or further electronic handheld devices
are also useable for this purpose. The computer-aided workstations
are all equipped with corresponding web interfaces or,
respectively, corresponding web tools that authorize them to
receive data via a network.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the access to
relevant finding data and/or the provision of the same or the
medical report ensues independent of the storage location of the
respective finding data or, respectively, report data. This is
possible because all connected computer-supported entities exchange
data with one another via a network. Medical reports therefore can
also be made visible or provided across departmental and clinic
borders. The further processing of the provided data is thereby
completely open. It is thus possible to feed the data to a further
data processing (for example an analysis or a post-processing), or
the medical report can be printed out or be relayed to further
instances.
[0019] In a further preferred embodiment, the finding data includes
all or selected examination-related data, in particular finding
data, image data, report data, preliminary findings, measurement
results or further relevant events. A significant advantage of this
feature is that the basis for the generation of the medical report
can be expanded by incorporating not only the finding data, but
also other relevant data can be taken into account. The decision or
the selection of the data that are considered for the generation of
the medical report thereby lies with the user. The quality of the
medical report thus can be distinctly increased overall. By
contrast to this, in conventional systems it is only possible to
use information that are available within the RIS system. Further
data, for example the processing of post-processing measures,
further measurement results or other evidence or events that are
available, for example, at other workstations or that require a
different format, could previously not be considered. All data that
are classified as relevant for the generation of the report can
automatically be transferred to the respective finding station.
[0020] In a further preferred embodiment, the method includes a
configuration of the data. In other words, according to the
invention it is possible to format or to configure data from other
systems (that exist in a different format, for example) such that
they are prepared and can be used for the current system which is
designed to generate the respective medical report. It is likewise
possible to adaptively configure the medical report or portions
thereof (for example the image or text contents). For example, it
may be necessary that a remote entity requires the text data not in
a Word format but, for example, as a PDF document. The requested
data are correspondingly configured in a matching format and
provided in that format. The configuration ensues dynamically; it
is adapted to the respective computer-supported workstation or to
the information technology environment of the respective
workstation. For example, if no PDF reader is installed at a
specific workstation, the system detects this automatically and the
medical report is presented in a different format (for example in
Word format).
[0021] In a preferred embodiment the inventive method includes data
transfer via a network. The method can therefore be used very
flexibly, and it is possible that the medical report is generated
at a workstation that differs from the workstation at which the
finding data have been acquired (for example the CT scanner) and/or
it can moreover differ from the workstation at which the medical
report should be displayed (for example at the workstation of the
treating or referring physician). In other words, the workstations
for acquisition of the finding data, for generation of the medical
report and for display of the medical report can be entirely
independent of one another, such that the respective actions can be
executed at different systems or platforms.
[0022] A further advantage is in the temporal variability of the
inventive method. The timing of the report generation is temporally
independent of the timing of the provision of the medical report.
In other words, the generated medical report can be retrieved at
arbitrary workstations at arbitrary points in time. In a preferred
embodiment the medical report and/or the relevant finding data are
provided online.
[0023] In a further preferred embodiment the medical report and/or
the finding data are continuously updated. An update process of
these data is therefore automated, such that it is ensured that the
respective current data set is always processed.
[0024] In an alternative embodiment, a data set including the
medical report and/or the finding data is available in different
compilation stages. The genesis (i.e. the temporal generation of
the report) thus can be tracked. All stages or preliminary stages
of the medical report are stored. Changes to an existing report and
further developments in a report to be generated thus can be
tracked.
[0025] In a further preferred embodiment of the method, a central
report server with a report memory is accessed. The medical report
and/or the finding data and possibly the compilation stages thereof
are stored in up-to-date form in the report memory. They are
distributed to decentralized network nodes via the report
server.
[0026] In a further embodiment the medical report and/or the
finding data can be accessed from at least one decentralized
computer-supported node via the Internet (or via another network
connection). The respective computer-supported nodes or
workstations are provided with a networkable environment (with
corresponding tools and applications) that enable the nodes to
receive data and messages via the network.
[0027] The features and alternative embodiments mentioned in the
preceding can also be mutually integrated into one embodiment.
Furthermore, the features and embodiments mentioned in the
preceding can also be applied in alternative achievements of the
object.
[0028] As mentioned, the above object also is achieved in
accordance with the invention by a device for provision of a
medical report in the framework of an examination or finding with
incorporation of relevant finding data, having: a report generator
with corresponding user interface that is fashioned for generation
of the medical report with access to relevant finding data or to
acquire already-generated medical reports, and a distributor that
is designed to provide the medical reports and/or the relevant
finding data to decentralized, computer-aided, networkable
workstations.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment the device also includes a central
report server fashioned with a report memory to store the medical
report and/or the finding data.
[0030] The above object also is achieved in accordance with the
invention by a computer program product that can be loaded directly
into a memory of a computer and that is encoded with programming
instructions that cause the computer to implement the inventive
method described above when the program code is executed by a
processor.
[0031] The object also is achieved in accordance with the invention
by a system for providing a medical report in the framework of an
examination, that includes a network placing the report generator
and the distributor in communication with each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] FIG. 1 is an overview-like representation of the inventive
architecture for provision of a medical report.
[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates modules for application of the inventive
method.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] The basic components or modules for execution of the
inventive method are presented in FIG. 1. The method for provision
of a medical report B that is based on a medical examination (in
particular a radiological examination) and comprises finding data,
image data, report data and/or further measurement results [sic]).
The finding data can have been acquired by different modalities.
All computer-supported nodes or workspaces or workstations 10 are
networkable and can exchange data (for example via the HTTP
protocol). Each workstation 10 has a URL address via which it is
identifiable on a one-to-one basis. Access to the local nodes 10 or
other "remote" nodes 10 at which relevant finding data are stored
is executed to generate the medical report B. These can be
arbitrary web clients, the RIS system or the modalities themselves.
The generation of the medical report B is prepared in that all
relevant finding data of different disk spaces and workstations 10
are collected and can be considered for generation of the medical
report B. After generation of the report B, it is relayed to
requesting workspaces alone or together with the relevant finding
data. The medical report B and/or the finding data can thus be
retrieved online at arbitrary linked network nodes 10.
[0035] FIG. 2 shows that the inventive device comprises a report
memory SP and a central report server S that are engaged in data
exchange with one another. Moreover, each network node 10 is
equipped with a network access (web access) that is fashioned as a
sub-system at the report server S. The central report server S
communicates with arbitrary web clients 10 (such as, for example,
with the RIS system) via the HTTP protocol.
[0036] The network nodes 10 that request the medical report B must
be provided with a corresponding network environment and
advantageously possess a monitor M that is fashioned to display the
medical report B.
[0037] To execute a radiological examination the respective scanner
must be configured for the application case so that the respective
finding data can be acquired. Therefore the technicians or the
radiologists receive what is known as a worklist that is provided
by the RIS system. Further connected workspaces concern, for
example, the acquisition of the image data, a post-processing of
the image data and/or further applications and tools for generation
and documentation of examination data and further evidence. The
respective nodes 10 are equipped with a network interface. The
report server S at the respective workspace 10 supplies the
relevant data (thus the report data, finding data) or further
acquired measurement results. As soon as the finding data change an
update of the respective data ensues in the report memory SP. With
this it is ensured that report data newly generated during a
post-processing or during later evaluations of images are
automatically stored and are available in a respective updated
form. The respective data are stored in a network-compatible report
format. The report files are stored in the report memory SP with a
networkable environment that is accessible online via the RIS
system by means of a predefined URL address.
[0038] During his session at the RIS system the radiologist can
display and view, copy, download or otherwise further process the
medical reports B. Moreover, the radiologist can have presented
only sections of the medical report such as, for example,
abstracts, exclusively images or only selected images that, for
example, are the basis of a current post-processing. Moreover, the
radiologist can forward the data to further applications or
workstations 10.
[0039] The type and number of the connected workstations 10 is
thereby not limited. According to the invention, not only the
radiologists at the RIS system but also other users at other
workspaces 10 can therefore track the progress in the processing of
the finding data, the analysis of the image generation or the image
importation and the report generation.
[0040] Via the inventive provision of the reports in digital form
over the network or, respectively, online, the radiology department
gains the advantage that fewer user interactions are necessary for
report generation than were previously necessary via incompatible
systems of the radiology department. Moreover, the costs and the
time with regard to the report generation are clearly reduced.
Furthermore, a significantly improved quality results, both with
regard to the internal documentation and with regard to the
external relaying of report data.
[0041] In order to give consideration to the different information
technology environments of the respective workspaces 10, in a
preferred alternative embodiment of the invention it is provided to
effect a conversion of the generated medical report B. This ensures
that the generated medical report B can also be presented or
displayed on the respective target computer (thus the workstation
10 that has requested the medical report B).
[0042] The report server S provides the report data in different
formats (for example in HTML, XML, PDF, TXT etc.). According to the
invention, the access to the medical reports B is possible from
arbitrary workstations 10 that are connected to the RIS system or
from workstations 10 with a web browser. The respective client then
requires an access to the web portal of the report server S.
[0043] Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those
skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventor to embody
within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as
reasonably and properly come within the scope of his contribution
to the art.
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